SilkFred expert shares tips on styling mis-matched bridesmaid dresses

As more and more couples opt for non-traditional weddings, bridesmaid fashion has also gone through its own evolution. The thinking of 'all of my bridesmaids have to look the same no matter their personal style or body shape' has been replaced by wanting your bridal party - not only to look unique - but to also feel comfortable. However, opting for mismatched bridesmaids' dresses comes with its own challenges. Without careful planning, the bridal party may appear disjointed rather than united - after all, you don't want your bridal party to look like every other wedding guest.

Georgie Mitchell, wedding planner, co-ordinator and in-house wedding guru for online fashion destination SilkFred, has shared her top tips to pull off this popular non-traditional wedding trend. We have also sat down with SilkFred's Head Stylist, Megan Watkins, who has shared expert styling tips to make sure your bridal party looks on point.

What is the key to making mis-matched bridesmaid dresses work for your wedding?
Georgie reveals: "The key is to stay flexible but have clear direction. The biggest bonus for mis-matched dresses is giving your bridesmaids some personality. Let them pick the dresses that feel right for them, sticking to your overall theme and vision."

What would you avoid if you decide on doing mismatched bridesmaid dresses?
Georgie says: "Make sure you try them all on together. Don't leave it till the day to check how they all look side by side. Organise a try on night - any excuse to have your girls round for a glass of wine!"


Pick a colour palette
Georgie explains: "If you've picked an overarching colour for your wedding, make sure this serves as inspiration for your bridal party. Experiment with different shades that compliment that colour and go from there. This way although the dresses will be different shades, the entire wedding will look cohesive."
Megan recommends: "When thinking about your bridesmaid dresses, I would recommend making a super simple mood board where you can see in one place how colours compliment each other." "You can also consider what kind of wedding you're having and pick a shade range from there. For example, earth tones such as terracotta, sage and marigold or jewel tones are perfect for an outdoor, rustic wedding. Or jewel tones like ruby, emerald and sapphire work well at winter weddings."

Let your bridesmaids decide
Georgie reveals: "Of course, if you let your bridesmaids have free reign over their dresses it could be an absolute clash of styles and take away from the main event (which should be the bride). However, if you give your bridal party a budget, colour palette and some inspiration and let them pick out a dress, you can save yourself a job and get them involved. This is a foolproof way to avoid bridal party dramas and everyone will feel like they've got what they wanted!"

Pick one key element
Georgie reveals: "Pick one element of your bridesmaid dresses that you want to keep the same. This could be something like the length of the dress, the colour, the neckline or even a cute decal like a sash or floral decal. This means you can have some cohesiveness to your bridal party, whilst the actual dresses are different and interesting to look at!"

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise
Georgie says: "If you're going for mis-matched bridesmaid dresses, you can create cohesion through accessories. Whether this be shoes, jewellery or bouquets. This is what will tie your bridal party together and make them stand out from the crowd."
Megan recommends: "If you're going to go for matching accessories for your bridal party, there are a ton of options that are bang on trend. For example, matching pearl necklaces or bracelets - this will give your bridal party cohesion and add a touch of white as a nod to the bride. 3-d florals are also having their time in the spotlight, so adding a floral piece on to the dress or as a corsage will give your bridal party that unique touch."

Research is your best friend
Georgie reveals: "It is so important, when planning a wedding, to understand what you like. Dig around for other weddings that have also done mismatched bridesmaid dresses and see what colours they've gone for, what styles look good to you. Is it the colour you want to mismatch or the cut of the dress? Once you get a feel of which direction you want to go - everything will fall into place!" https://www.silkfred.com